Lakshmivara Tirtha, the head of the Shiroor mutt in Udupi passed away on Thursday morning. Poisoning is suspected to be the cause of death of the controversial pontiff. The Karnataka government has also promised to conduct an investigations if necessary.

The 55 year old head was admitted in hospital on Wednesday after he complained of food poisoning. Reportedly, he was not in good terms with six other seers of the mutt. Tirtha passed away at 8.30 am in the hospital. Tirtha was also suffering from breathlessness and gastro-intestinal bleeding when he was admitted while his blood transfusion and dialysis was regular. The toxicology samples have been sent for examination as well.

What adds to the doubt is that Tirtha had filed a complaint against the six seers only last month end. The Shirro pontiff had stoked controversy when he made his intentions clear to the public to contest the Karnataka state assembly elections.

A video of him using crass language against other seers was also released. The pontiff claimed it was fake, but it would have apparently created a tiff among him the seers. Tirtha was inducted into the Shiroor mutt at the age of eight and is an avid lover of swimming and loved to collect antiques. He also can play the drums and knows martial arts.